Original subtitles

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[music playing]

[birds chirping]

[music playing]

PUG (VOICEOVER): These were my fields then.

Fields wild, rich, and waiting fallow since my father left.

My father's name was Frank Miller.

And he'd been missing in the Pacific for almost three years

in that spring of 1945.

On those bright mornings, my hope and I

would run those wild fields, searching for some piece of him

or for some other small seed left to grow wild

and untended like me.

To me, my father was a great and tragic hero.

In my dreams, he would return to my mother and me,

handsome and covered in glory.

But this story isn't about dreams.

This story is about one growing season.

And in that season, there was my mother, there was the farm,

and there was Tom who wandered into our lives hungry, tired,

and hurt.

Little girl.

PUG (VOICEOVER): Looking for peace in a world that

had precious little to spare.

Mama, mama, mama, mama, mama, mama,

mama, mama, mama, mama, mama!

Pug, where you been?

I need you out here, you know.

Mama, mama.

I'm out here doing your chores.

I got chores of my own, girl, and only two hands

to do them with.

PUG: Mama, mama.

Just catch your breath, child.

You're about to have a heart attack.

Mama, mama, I found a dead man.

A dead man, mama.

A what?

A dead man, mama.

Only maybe ain't dead yet.

He called me a little girl.

His leg's all bloody.

Bloody?

PUG: Yes, ma'am, up by the field.

Pug, if this is one of your stories.

Ain't a story, mama.

He's there.

Pug.

You see, mama?

Mister?

PUG: Mama.

Don't be scared, darlin'.

Just go on up to the house and call

Doc Anderson right away, Pug.

Mister, mister, I'm gonna get you up to the house.

And you got to help me.

How'd this happen anyhow?

A dog.

A dog?

About a mile up the road is a big farm with an orchard.

That'd be Silas's place.

You just lean on me and put your weight on the other leg.

No, that's mine.

I wasn't stealing it.

Lord.

Come on.

[moaning]

Come on, mister.

Keep walking.

He dead, mama?

He ain't dead.

Just a poor fella got hurt.

That's all.

What you reading?

A book.

I can see it's a book.

What's it called?

Ranger's Romance.

What's it about?

A ranger and his romance.

How'd he get hurt?

Dog bite.

Why don't you put on them glasses

instead of burying your face halfway

through your hands like that?

Lord, what I paid for them glasses,

and you're intent on making yourself blind anyhow.

I don't like those glasses.

Make me look like a bug.

They do not.

They do.

Can't wear them to school.

I put them on, and sure shooting,

old Sammy Carlin is going to come up

and say, well, lookie here.

Here comes the bug, Pug the bug.

He will?

That's what he calls me, Pug the bug.

That's what they all call me.

Wish I had a different name.

Well, you do.

You have a lovely name.

Opal.

That's right, Opal.

It's worse than Pug.

It's a pretty name.

Name of a gemstone.

Like mine's Ruby, yours is Opal.

That's what your daddy wanted.

Said his girls was jewels, and he wanted them named

as such, a ruby and an opal.

Then why didn't you just name me Ruby like you?

Because you ain't a Ruby.

You're an Opal.

You see, a ruby's kind of hard and bright red.

And you can see right through it.

But an opal, well, an opal is pure white like fresh snow

on the outside.

And on the inside, it's on fire.

Bright sparkles on the inside.

Pure and sweet on the outside.

And that's you, sweetie.

Oh, mama, that's just to you.

To Sammy Carlin, I'm just Pug the bug, or Opal the bug,

or any other bug.

Just bug, bug, bug.

It's all on account of them glasses.

Well, you go put them on anyway

or you'll be Pug the bat because that's what you'll be blind as.

Yes, ma'am.

Go get Doc a cool glass of tea.

Extra sweet?

Yeah, extra sweet.

Thank you.

Well, it's a bad bite.

But the bone isn't broken.

So who is he?

Some hobo?

His name is Tom Walker, a gentleman of the road.

Not the first one to come through here.

I think they jump up around the bend

just before the cotton gin.

Well, I guess I could take him with me.

Yes, sir.

I really shouldn't be moving him tonight, though.

He could stay here tonight.

Here you are, sir.

Oh, thank you, Opal.

Here we go.

Thanks, that was just perfect.

You're welcome, sir.

Know what, doc?

Said on the radio Russians are in Germany.

Looks like we're going to break the Siegfried Line.

Oh, is that a fact?

More boys coming home every day.

Yeah.

War can't go on much longer.

I expect we'll be hearing from Frank soon.

Well, hell, you know the whole town's pulling for Frank, Ruby.

We'll need him when this is all over.

He'll be here.

I'm sure he will.

Well, that fellow should be--

he'll able to walk tomorrow.

I'd send him on his way, OK.

Yes, sir, I'll do that.

Thanks, doc.

[music playing]

Mister, mister?

[dogs barking]

Darling, get down here.

Evening, Opal.

Brought you some pecans.

Good evening, Mr. Green.

Those hounds just took a hunk out of a hobo.

Huh?

Oh, he's OK.

Got him resting up inside.

Can't walk.

He's not waking up, even to eat.

He looks hard.

He don't like no one to touch his things.

I'm thinking he's mysterious.

Where's your mama?

PUG: Inside.

SILAS: Evening, Ruby.

Silas, come on in.

[door creaking]

Figured you could use these pecans, pie and such.

Thank you.

Heard you had some excitement up here with a fella.

No trouble.

Doc had to patch him up a little.

You ought to do something about them dogs of yours, Silas.

Lots of men wandering around these days.

Who knows what they're up to.

Where you got him?

In Pug's room.

He's asleep.

I reckon he'll sleep for a while.

I could take him up to my place.

Doc says he shouldn't be moved.

Besides, I'm the one who took him in.

Well, I guess I could ask Charlie or his boy

to come out and stay the night.

A strange man in the house, don't know who he is

or what he's capable of.

You alone with the little girl.

I'll take care of him.

It'll be fine.

Fix you some tea or something?

Won't take a minute.

Nope, just bringing them pecans.

My boys should start breaking up pine next week

if we're going to get corn in by the end of April.

I still would like to plant that land of yours.

Land is at a premium.

I'd pay you top dollar.

Letting it rest.

It's been resting three years.

That's a long time.

I'd give you a very healthy percentage of what I bring in,

more than I'd give anyone else.

It'd be the smart thing to do.

Well, best be going.

Holler if you need anything.

This fella, if you have to have him up here, keep an eye out.

Some of these bums, you show them a little kindness

and they rob you blind or worse.

We'll be fine.

Well, keeping an eye out, just the same.

Just showing my concern.

Appreciate it.

[engine roaring]

PUG: Bye, Mr. Green.

SILAS: Bye.

You say your prayers?

Yes'm, God blessed you, and daddy,

and Mr. Green for the pecans.

Said to God bless the man in my bedroom.

That's how I call him on account I don't know his name.

I said, God bless that hard man in my bedroom.

Figure that's OK?

Well, I expect God knows who you're referring to.

You ready to go to sleep?

Just seven times.

PUG: Why didn't daddy take his watch when he went away?

Well, I guess he figured it'd be safer with us

than where he was going.

Think when daddy gets back, he'll

still let me wind his watch?

We'll talk to him.

Go to sleep now.

Yes'm.

[crickets chirping]

[owl hooting]

[items crashing]

[dramatic music]

What have you done?

I fell, ma'am.

What are you doing out of bed anyhow?

Where do you think you're going like this?

You think you're going far?

I think no, mister.

Don't wanna be no trouble.

Well, you already is trouble.

Just lay here.

You'll be gone soon enough.

You didn't the shotgun.

It ain't loaded anyhow.

Go to sleep.

Hello.

Ma'am, I'm going to move on.

I feel fine.

Well, you're set on going.

I'll fix you something before you go.

I can wait outside.

Well, you just sit down there.

Won't take a minute.

I'm the one who found you, mister, up back of the field,

remember?

You called me a little girl, remember?

My name is Pug.

My real name is Opal.

But they call me Pug on account of we had a pug dog once.

And I guess I sort of resemble him.

Or I did on account he's dead now.

Opal's a gemstone.

Got milk on the outside and fire on the inside.

How's the leg?

Fine.

Is that some sort of school project?

No, it's just for us.

We keep track of everyone we know is in the war, boys

from around here.

Got pins where they are.

This one's my daddy's.

Black pins for people did heroic things

like won medals and such.

Gold pins where they die.

Let the man breathe, Pug.

There you go.

Hope that's to your liking.

There's more if you want it.

Pug?

What?

If you need anything else, we'll

be out in the back garden.

We got some chores to do.

Come on, Pug.

Pug.

Hello, again.

Hello there.

My stars.

Here.

What's your name?

My name's Tom.

You a rummy?

A what?

A rummy, a drunk.

We get a lot of them through here off the train lines.

Thanks.

Hurt when the dog bit you?

I ain't never been bit by a dog.

I don't recommend it.

You're very brave.

Didn't cry or nothing.

Pug, don't be bothering the man.

I ain't bothering him.

Just talking to him.

His name's Tom.

He ain't a rummy.

Hush now.

Ma'am, I've done some farming time to time.

I can help you out if you don't mind.

I'm a good worker.

I could really bust up those acres for you.

I don't need no help just now, thanks.

Sure.

I packed you some food.

And there's an old shirt and a pair of trousers.

Looked like yours were approaching retirement.

Yes, ma'am.

And this, this was my husband's.

Sleeve's a little torn.

He'll be needing a new one when he gets back anyways.

He's in the Pacific.

Missing in action since Bataan.

Hope to be hearing something soon.

PUG: When daddy gets back, there's going to be a parade

town right down Main Street.

Ain't that right, mama?

That's right, honey.

Well, I sure hope it all works out for you, miss, ma'am.

Thank you very much.

Why did you give them all that, mama?

We're Christian people, Pug.

Besides, someplace else, some other part of the world,

that might be your daddy.

Hope strangers treat him as well.

Anyhow, we got a farm to run.

Let's go, missy.

We got to get into town this afternoon

and chores to do before then.

[music playing]

PUG (VOICEOVER): In front of our church

was a granite marker honoring those brave

sons of Hanover who would never return.

Not that there was much to return to.

You see, Hanover was the closest thing we had to a city.

A gray fence post of a town that was left to weather on its own

without a soul who could remember its original purpose.

Even in those days, it was a place she came from, not one

you went to.

Thank you, Deke.

Can I give you a hand with that, Ruby?

I'm fine.

Bye, Mr. Parson.

Bye bye, Opal.

[birds chirping]

[mysterious music]

Hey, mama, ain't that Tom?

I'll be right back.

I'm coming with you.

You stay here, missy.

I'm coming.

All right, fella, empty your pockets.

There as empty as they get, sir.

RUBY: Bob.

Well, hello Ruby, Miss Opal.

Go sit down.

I was just going to have to call you.

Picked up this fellow down at the train yard

trying to jump for free.

The name's Tom Walker.

RUBY: I know that.

You do?

Says he got this stuff you.

Says you gave it to him.

Well, I did.

BOB: You did?

Weren't that Frank's jacket?

Yes, it is.

See, it's got that rip in the sleeve where it got caught.

I believe that was Frank helping you get your fool hat untangled

when you ran smack into that barbed wire

last deer season before he went away.

I didn't exactly run into it.

I tripped.

Anyhow, I gave it to him, so you can let him go now.

Well, there's still a matter of jumping the train

and vagrancy.

He ain't a vagrant if he's got a job hereabouts, is he?

Well, no.

Well, he does.

He's working for me.

Since when?

Since now, Bob.

Thank you very much, and good day.

Come along now.

Ain't got all day.

Can I go now?

I guess so.

Keep your nose clean, boy.

Is Tom gonna come live with us, mama?

Get in the truck, Pug.

I ain't got no money.

I can give you a room in the barn and your meals

just for a while.

That'd be fine.

You can ride in the back.

[music playing]

I got some fences need fixing, some things in the house.

I seen your handy with things.

Yes, ma'am.

Thanks for fixing the sink.

Won't have you drinking or women.

You can bunk in here.

There won't be any real fieldwork.

Rich land.

Looks like 30, 35 acres.

38.

I worked for a fellow in South Carolina a couple of years

ago laying in corn, cotton, soybeans, peanuts

all on a lot less acreage than that.

We ain't working the land till daddy gets back.

We got plenty to carry us through.

Yes, ma'am.

Church tomorrow.

You live on my farm, mister, you go to church.

Yes, ma'am.

We'll be having dinner in a little while.

Thank you, ma'am.

[sighing]

PUG: Mister, mister?

I wasn't snooping.

I was--

It's about supper time.

Yes, sir.

You better hurry up.

Having catfish.

[music playing]

Bless, oh, Lord, this food to our use and us to thy service.

Make us ever mindful for the needs of others.

Amen.

Amen.

[music playing]

Thank you, mama.

She looks like he's had a bad time.

He does that.

Figure he's a criminal?

Why'd you say that?

I don't know.

Looks hard.

Ranger's Romance says a fella came up to a house shot.

Turned out he was a criminal just robbed a bank

and killed two people.

Well, lots of people look hard nowadays.

Doesn't mean they're bad.

Times is hard.

When's daddy coming home, mama?

Soon, baby, soon.

I remember you used to sing to me.

I just can't remember the song.

Well, you just lay there nice and quiet, and you think hard.

Maybe it'll come to you.

Mama?

Yes, baby?

Think wherever daddy is, he's thinking of me?

Yes, baby.

He's thinking of you?

Yes, baby.

Yes, ma'am.

You go to sleep now, you here?

All right, mama.

Good night.

[crickets chirping]

(SINGING) The moon-- the moon--

the moon, the moon, I see the moon.

God bless the moon.

And God bless me.

There's grace in your cottage, and grace in your heart.

And the grace of God is over us all.

The moon, the moon, I see the moon.

God bless the moon, and God bless me.

There's grace in your cottage and grace in your heart.

And the grace of God is over us all.

I remembered, mama.

Good, honey.

PUG: Mama, who do you think Tom is really?

RUBY: Just a fella.

Go to sleep now.

[owl hooting]

[music playing]

Sorry.

I ask you now to bow your heads

and say a small personal prayer to our Savior

to protect our boys and especially

those from this community.

They have our love.

Please, Jesus, bring them home safe and victorious.

WOMAN: Thank you, Lord.

MAN: Blessed Jesus.

WOMAN: Praise Jesus.

["for the beauty of the earth"]

(SINGING) For the beauty of the earth.

For the glory of the skies.

For the love which from our birth over and around us lies.

Lord of all, to thee we raise this

our hymn of grateful praise.

Oh, Ruby, dear.

Don't you look pretty.

Silas.

I want that buttermilk pie recipe.

Easiest pie in the world, child.

I'll write it down for you.

Ruby, I ain't one to keep my mouth shut

when something's bothering me.

And this situation with this fella here is bothering me.

You know who this fella is, Ruby?

His name's Tom.

Right, well, Sheriff got kind of curious about him right off.

So we made some calls.

Know where he comes from?

Spent time in the federal penitentiary.

And for the last two years, he's been in the CPS camps.

Got called up for the draft and wouldn't serve.

Civilian public service.

He's a coward, Ruby.

You and Bob made the calls without calling me?

The man's staying at my place, Silas.

I figure if it don't bother me, it

isn't anyone else's business.

The man is an ex-con, Ruby, and a draft dodger.

Whatever he'd done, reckon he paid his debt in prison.

And as for the war, well, there's lots of folk

around here who didn't serve.

I would have gone in a minute, but they pegged me as too old.

And as for these others, they got farm deferments and such.

But a healthy young man who won't go and fight,

there's only one reason.

He's scared.

Whatever I'm saying, Ruby, I'm saying out of friendship

for you and the girl.

You know how it is, Ruby.

Well, I guess I don't.

MRS. THURMAN: Morning, Silas.

Morning, Ms. Thurman, Mr. Thurman.

Morning.

SILAS: Fine day.

Ruby, I sent off those gloves to George.

I can't thank you enough.

It weren't nothing, Mrs. Thurman.

I hope George will be home soon.

His division's in the thick of it.

Don't know where.

Last letter said he was getting a bronze star.

Imagine that.

Congratulations.

I want to hear all about it.

Well, it seems our George got himself into a bit of a fix.

There were these boys in the town--

We'll leave that to George when he gets back.

This one will talk your ear off.

Honestly, you'd think he won the medal.

Didn't I tell you, mysterious.

Ah, he don't look all that tough.

I'd like to see you walk right up to him say that

to this face, Mr. Sammy Carlin.

I'd like to see you do that.

Wouldn't be surprised if he's robbed a bank or killed a man.

[children gasping]

You're a woman alone, Ruby.

You got to watch out.

A single woman alone for more than three years with a man

like that in the house, it don't look good.

Tom ain't in the house.

He's in the barn.

And I ain't no single woman, Silas.

I got a husband.

Ruby, you ain't heard from Frank in three years.

He ain't on the POW list.

That don't mean nothing.

What it means, maybe it's time to start thinking ahead.

[music playing]

Mrs. Thurman, Mr. Thurman.

Oh, George.

George.

The Lord is my shepherd.

(CRYING) My boy.

WOMAN: Get her some water.

He leaves me beside the still waters.

He restores my soul.

He leaves me in the path of righteousness.

George!

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil for you are with me.

Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

[music playing]

Where was it, mama?

At Manila, baby.

That's in the Philippines.

Gold pins where they die.

Dear God, this pin's for George, George Thurman.

Died in service to his country.

Sleep in peace, George.

Tom, first thing tomorrow, we start clearing the fields.

Sick of looking at it the way it is.

Pug, I'll need you right after school.

You go on upstairs and get out of your good dress.

Yes, ma'am.

Figure we can clear an acre, an acre and a half a day.

Tom, I know about you.

I know you refused to fight in the war.

I ain't going to ask you your reasons.

I just wanted to say I got a husband missing.

My brother Michael died at Anzio.

Almost everybody we know has got someone over there.

I'm just going to say this.

Everybody's got a right to their opinions.

I don't care what you done.

I figure you got your reasons.

And I don't want you filling my daughter's head

with any pacifist nonsense.

I just don't want it.

I ain't no pacifist, ma'am.

You here?

Yes, ma'am.

One word and you're gone.

Yes, ma'am.

PUG: Tell me not, sweet, I'm unkind,

that from the nunnery of thy chaste--

what's chaste mean?

Chaste?

It's like pure.

Oh, pure.

I thought it was like chased like he was chasing her breast.

Couldn't make any sense of it.

So her breast is pure like clean.

Sorry, hon.

Go on.

OK, of thy chaste breast and--

what was it?

Quiet.

And quiet mind in war-- and arms to war I fly.

True.

I got it.

I got it.

A true mistress I chased.

A new mistress.

A new mistress I chased.

That's regular chased, right?

RUBY: Right.

OK, the first foe in the field, with a stronger faith

embrace.

A sword, a horse, shield.

This is a stupid poem.

Wish I had to remember Edna's poem.

It's a better poem.

What makes it better?

It's shorter.

Where was I?

Last verse.

And yet this inconstancy is such as you two shall adore.

I could not love the, dear, so much, loved I not honor more.

Good night.

FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT (ON RADIO):

My fellow Americans of all the Americas,

my friends, all our fighting men overseas today have

their appointed stations on the far-flung battlefronts

of the world.

We at home have ours, too.

We need, we are proud of our fighting men most decidedly.

But during the anxious times ahead,

let us not forget that they need us, too.

It goes almost without saying.

[music playing]

[engine revving]

Ooh, right there.

[giggling]

Go put it down right down there.

Pug the bug, we'll make you a farmer yet.

Ah.

[fire crackling]

PUG: President Roosevelt says we'll be in Berlin by May.

First army crossed the Rhine last month.

A place called Remigume--

Remigim or something like that.

That a fact?

Yes, sir.

First time since Napoleon an invading army

crossed the Rhine.

That's a river.

Yeah, yeah, I think I heard that.

Tom, you never talk about the war.

Most folks I talk about the war all the time.

You never talk about the war.

Why is that?

I don't know.

I just don't think about it, I guess.

Don't think about it?

It's the biggest thing that ever happened.

It's the biggest thing that ever happened to me,

President Roosevelt says.

There she is.

She's laying, but she won't nest.

Why is that, Tom?

You know turkeys.

Not a lot of baking in the brain pan.

The nest has got to be out back somewhere in a stand of trees.

But you got to follow her.

Don't let her know you're following her.

If she thinks you're following her,

she ain't going to go back to the nest.

When you get there, use this.

That'll fool her for the time being.

Then she'll forget all about it.

There she goes, she goes, she goes.

Right behind here.

OK.

We're gonna run over to this tree.

You ready, set, go.

[turkey gobbling]

You got to be real quiet.

Shh.

That-- trees.

Yeah, go, go, go, go, go, go.

OK, there's.

OK.

You got the rock?

Yeah, right here.

All right, go up there.

I'm going to go get it.

Yeah.

I got it.

Got it.

There you go.

Come on, let's go.

There you go.

Now after a while, you have yourself another turkey.

Hope it's a smart one.

[laughing]

I doubt it.

They're saying-- they're saying President Roosevelt,

he's dead.

[crying]

RADIO ANNOUNCER: The president, stricken

by a cerebral hemorrhage, passed from unconsciousness

to death on the 83rd day of his fourth term

and in an hour of high triumph.

The armies and fleets under his direction as commander in chief

were at the gates of Berlin and the shores of Japan's home

islands as Mr. Roosevelt died.

And the cause he represented and led

was nearing the conclusive phase of success.

Less than two hours after the official announcement,

Harry S. Truman, vice president, took the oath

as the 32nd president of the United States.

[melancholy music playing]

She go down OK?

Yeah, just pretty upset.

She idolized that man.

The only president Pug ever really knew.

We went through so much together,

the depression, the war.

I just can't believe he's gone.

What are you thinking, Tom?

Radio waves.

Radio waves?

When I was a kid, my daddy and I built a crystal set.

Just a board, four nails, a piece of wiring crystal.

Cost me $0.10.

I had to save for a solid two months.

Had a set of old Bakelite headphones somebody gave me.

You had to run a wire across a crystal.

If you held it real still, then you

could get one somebody's voice.

That's how I first heard him.

The only thing to fear is fear itself.

Mm hmm.

I remember one time he said, we are committed

to full support of those peoples everywhere

who resist an aggression.

That one just sort of stuck with me.

It's good words, normal words.

You know, they say radio waves never die.

All those voices, all those thoughts, ideas, and songs

might just be bouncing around the stars out there like souls.

I keep thinking about his wife.

She's sleeping now.

Tomorrow she's going to wake up.

Just for a moment, she won't remember.

It'll be like--

You cold?

You want my jacket?

No.

I guess I'd better go in.

Goodnight, Tom.

Goodnight, Ruby.

PUG (VOICEOVER): Nothing was said, but after that day,

my mother seemed to push harder in the fields.

I have often wondered if she was preparing a place

to plant her grief and moving on to face a truth that she

could not bear to be true.

It was mighty hard work for one broken man,

a woman, and a girl.

But as the weeks went by, bit by bit, with Tom's help,

we took back control of the land.

And with it, began the slow process

of reclaiming our lives.

As for me, I think I had already moved on,

allowing Tom to move so naturally into that place that

had been empty for so long.

Sing it to me again.

All right.

(SINGING) Long John Silver went to sea with a cask of ale

upon his knee.

(SINGING) And a brush, and a comb, and a scrimshaw, and a--

Looking glass.

And a looking glass.

I'll never get it.

Yeah, you will.

All right, look, I'm a dig here.

Go over to that shady spot there.

Looks a good place for worms.

Are you afraid of worms?

No, sir.

(SINGING) And a pipe, and a bowl, and a bag of gold,

and a parrot named--

[gun shooting]

Pug, Pug, Pug?

It's a clean shot, boss, clean.

Morning, Tom.

Morning.

You met my boys?

This here's Len Upshaw and his son Charlie.

TOM: Pug!

Well, Miss Opal, are you two doing some fishing?

Just up yonder.

Clean kill, one through the eye.

Best way, quick.

Well, let's get going.

Uh, that piece of the lake's on my land.

It ain't good fishing.

Right.

If Ruby needs dinner, I'll send up some of this deer meat.

Ruby makes a wonderful venison stew.

You had that stew, boy?

I said you had that stew?

No, sir.

Not yet.

It's wonderful, carrots, onion, thick gravy, cornbread.

Many a Sunday supper Ruby had me up for that stew.

Look forward to being invited again.

I'll tell her.

SILAS: I'd appreciate that.

[geese honking]

This is a much better spot anyhow.

Yeah.

Don't seem like Mr. Green likes you much, Tom.

Well, don't suppose there's much I can do about that.

I think it's on account of he likes mama.

(SINGING) Long John Silver went to see the cask of ale

upon his knee.

With a brush, and a comb, and a scrimshaw bone,

and looking glass, and a--

(SINGING) trunk of brass, and a pipe, and a bowl, and a bag

of gold.

(SINGING) And a parrot named Polly Wolly Wiggins.

Long John Silver went to sea with a cask of ale

upon his knee.

(SINGING) But the crew went slack, so he never came back.

Neither did Polly Wolly Wiggins.

Shh, right over there.

There.

PUG (VOICEOVER): Late that April in a little red schoolhouse

in a place called Reims, the German army

surrendered unconditionally.

And the war in Europe ended.

It was a quiet victory for us.

The war in the Pacific where daddy was still dragged on.

And on the home front, we had our own battles beginning.

[children yelling]

Come here.

Stop it right now, you two.

That is enough.

And what's going on here?

What, I just said something that was true.

I can't help it if Pug the bug here can't stand the truth.

It isn't the truth!

Is so.

Heard they got a hired man up at her place.

Ain't nothing but a Nazi lover.

Everyone says so.

[kids yelling]

That's enough.

That is enough.

Come here.

Sammy, you clear out.

Inside and wash up.

The rest of you, too.

Recess is over anyhow.

Now Opal, I don't want to see any more of this nonsense.

Do you understand me?

And if I were you, young lady, I would watch what kind of person

I'd be so eager to defend.

Hurry, let's go.

You lay down with dogs, you get up with fleas.

Now come along inside.

Pug?

Yeah?

Came out here to look for you.

Your mom's been worried sick.

You're supposed to be home 2 and 1/2 hours ago.

What are you doing out here all alone anyhow?

I didn't want to come home.

I was hiding out.

You're hiding out?

What on Earth for?

Are you a Nazi lover, Tom?

What do you think, Pug?

OK, then.

Come along.

Your mama gonna be worried.

What do I do about my dress?

Don't you worry about your dress.

I'll talk to your mama.

Come on.

She's got fried chicken.

PUG (VOICEOVER): He moved into our lives bit by bit.

In time, it was like he'd always been there.

I turned 11 in June.

We had a cake.

And mama gave me a new dress.

It was white, and to this day, the prettiest thing

I've ever seen.

I ruined it the next day in another fight

with Sammy Carlin.

I had a lot of fights about Tom, fights with other people,

and fights with myself.

There were the things I knew about Tom,

and the things I had heard about Tom.

And then there was Tom himself.

And none of those things seemed to go together.

But then I was 11 years old, and it

was the first time I'd ever felt the weight

of a full-blown crush.

Hold still.

I am holding still.

Well, hold stiller.

I wouldn't have to be doing this if you hadn't gone

and ruined your good dress.

Ow!

I'm sorry.

Mama, you stuck me.

I'm sorry.

Lord.

Now I just got this little bit to do.

What do I do if somebody asks me to dance?

You'll dance with him.

I don't know how.

What am I supposed to do?

Just walk around out there and flap my legs like a jackass?

Tom, you teach me how to dance?

No, maybe you ought to ask your mama.

It ain't the same.

She don't know how to dance good.

I used to be a pretty fair dancer.

Yeah, but it's different with a boy.

When did you start worrying about boys?

That's who I'll be dancing with, ain't it?

Stop bothering Tom, Pug.

He's already put in a full day.

[radio static]

I'm warning you, I ain't real good at this.

I ain't any good at this, either.

So I don't see how it matters.

All right, would you like to dance?

What do I say?

[laughing]

You say, I would be charmed.

I would be charmed.

Yeah, now you take his hand, and you

let him lead you out to the floor, all right,

except you don't stomp out there.

You sort of glide.

It's a dance floor.

Glide?

Glide.

Like this?

Like that.

Now, these hands stay together.

This hand here goes right there.

This hand goes right here.

Now real loose, real light, all right.

Here we go.

[music playing]

SINGER: (SINGING) I couldn't sleep, but just before dawn--

Like this?

Look at you.

You're dancing.

How do I look?

You look great, Pug.

Woo!

[items crashing]

That's all right.

Sorry.

No, that's my fault. That's my fault. Oops, I'm sorry.

Got my buttons.

Caught in your hair. I'm sorry.

- I'm sorry. - That's all right.

We can fix that up.

We're just get started.

All right, listen.

You gonna be at the dance, Tom?

Mom's going to be there.

Want to learn to dance or not?

Sorry.

[laughing]

All right.

There's go Pug.

There goes Pug, woo!

What are you doing?

What are you doing?

I don't know.

You're just spinning me right out.

[giggling]

[marching band music]

["my country tis of thee"]

Folks haven't made this much fuss in a long time.

Like when I was a kid.

Where did you grow up, Tom?

Grew up on a farm outside of Saint Louis, Missouri.

Daddy was a doctor.

A doctor?

That's right, he inherited a farm from my granddaddy.

Lived on it and ran it with his two brothers.

They're all gone now.

What was it like in prison?

Pug!

I'm just talking to him.

It's all right, Ruby.

Wasn't that bad, actually.

We'd wake up in the morning, and they'd feed you.

And we'd go to work on the roads, out in the farms, And.

Then down, then more work, then supper, then bed.

Don't seem much different than our place.

[laughing]

[fireworks bursting]

[big band music]

BAND SINGERS: (SINGING) Why do the old folks make a fuss?

Scratch their heads and stare at us.

What else can it be but a faulty memory?

How about a fun, indulgent smile.

RUBY: I remember that feeling.

Yeah.

Boys are shy at that age.

She's looking at me.

He's looking at me.

They grow out of that, do they?

Excuse me a minute.

How you doing?

You're name's Sammy, hey?

Yes, sir.

Mine's Tom.

I'd like to have a word with you if you don't mind.

See Sammy, this here's a dance.

People come here to dance.

The way I see it, man ought to do what he sets out to do.

What do you say?

Pug hates me.

She'll probably say no.

Well, give it a try anyhow.

Like to dance?

I'll be charmed.

You would?

[music playing]

All be.

I'm game if you are.

BAND SINGERS: (SINGING) The guy I met this evening had a pair

of eyes a girl could adore.

I'm telling you the gent was heaven sent.

Swept me right off the floor.

I haven't done this since forever.

Me neither.

BAND SINGERS: (SINGERS) The guy I met this evening handed

me a line I couldn't ignore.

Hook and sinker took the bait.

The bait was great, and I was ready for more.

When we were dancing, when we were dancing,

ooh, how my heart went flip-flop.

And then romancing, I mean romancing,

I kind of murmured, baby, don't stop.

The guy I met this evening took me

home and ushered me to my door.

I won't tell you how the guy was a wow,

but I won't breathe till Saturday night.

The guy I met this evening had a pair

of eyes a girl could adore.

I'm telling you the gent was heaven sent.

Swept me right off the floor.

YOUNG MAN: I think you look great.

Oh, I forgot my pie tins.

I won't be a minute.

Meet you at the truck.

All right.

CHARLIE: Leaving so soon?

I guess this ain't your celebration.

4th of July is for Americans, real Americans.

Let me tell you what.

You say the Pledge of Allegiance,

we'll let you leave.

Come on.

I pledge allegiance to the flag.

Come on.

Maybe he's too scared to say it.

Scared of everything else.

CHARLIE: Got called up and didn't want to serve, huh?

I only pray this war lasts another year so I can go.

Go on, yellow belly.

Say it.

Do it.

Go on, fight, you coward.

Tom.

Let's go, boys.

Guess he found a skirt to hide behind.

Stinking animals.

Good for you, Tom, not lowering yourself to their level.

You hang up your dress?

Yeah.

Good.

You OK?

Go to sleep now.

He didn't even fight back, not one lick.

He just let them push him around, make fun of him.

[mumbling] said is true.

What's true?

He's a coward.

Go to sleep now.

Want some tea or something?

No, thank you.

Them Upshaws never was any good.

Just a boy looking for a way to prove he's a man.

My little brother Buddy was like that.

Just a kid wanting to grow up too fast.

Back in '36, he hitched up with the Lincoln Battalion.

He fought in Spain?

Wasn't even 19.

They buried him outside of some village.

I don't remember the name.

Maybe I never knew it.

Just stupid.

Get himself killed for people he didn't even know.

I ain't saying your husband--

Tomorrow, I'd like to start plowing the field.

I know it's late in the season, but I

figure we can get in soybeans.

Yeah, that should be fine.

[music playing]

RUBY: Pug, you got the mail there?

Yes ma'am.

Come on in.

You've been pretty quiet all night.

You OK?

Yeah.

Remember, seven times.

I'm tired.

OK, you sleep tight now.

And what else?

Cornmeal, please, sir.

I think it's about 5 pounds.

I got that out in the back.

Ruby asked if we could put this on the farm account.

She didn't think you'd mind.

Ruby hasn't used her farm account for a while.

You'll have to sign.

Just sign there and date it.

Got to remember to date it.

[horns honking]

What's going on?

The war's over.

Yeah!

[women cheering]

It's over.

It's over.

Thank God it's over.

[men cheering]

[music playing]

[horn honking]

Tom.

It's over.

It's over.

The war, it's finally over.

Sweet Jesus.

[music playing]

TOM: Pug, figure we better get going.

What's wrong?

Nothing.

All right then, let's go.

Your mom is waiting in the car.

[hoe down music]

Well.

Feel like an ass.

You look nice, Tom.

Real nice.

Well, Pug said maybe I should--

You look fine.

Well, I feel like an ass.

Where is Pug?

I don't know.

She went off somewhere.

You want some tea?

Yeah, sure.

I'll get it.

No, no, it'll only take a minute.

Come on, you guys.

Why'd you drag us all the way in here, Pug the bug?

PUG: Oh, you're so smart.

You think you know so much.

Think you know Tom.

Think he's a coward?

Just take a look at this, Mr. Sammy Carlin.

It's a ring he took off the finger of a man he killed.

He had to cut the finger to get it off.

Where'd you get that?

It's Tom's.

Go on.

What is this?

It ain't even English.

It's a warrant for his arrest in some other foreign country.

Told you he was mysterious.

Going to need some more time, Maddie.

I thought you were Miss Maddie.

Quite a day.

That it is.

People pretty glad to see it all over, see everybody

come home.

Something to be glad about.

You think so?

Of course.

No, I'm saying it could get pretty

complicated now when you get used to a certain way of life.

I don't know what you're talking about.

And I don't think I care to find out.

What?

Get your hands off me.

You crazy?

Frank ain't coming back, Ruby.

And this other guy, he ain't no good.

But I'm here for you.

I'm here for you.

I am here.

You're talking crazy.

Get your hands off me.

Hello, Ruby.

We're having a private word.

Seems to me she's done talking.

Seems to-- Go on.

Get out of here, you coward.

Mister, I think you just had too much to drink.

You think I don't see how it is?

Do you think the whole town don't see how it is?

You yellow-bellied little snake, you

wander in here among good folk who has

good land, these good people.

What in the hell is wrong with you, Ruby?

You already lost a husband to the war.

You take up with a man like this.

What kind of woman are you?

Watch it, mister.

Woman to take up with a man like this

is nothing but a tramp.

RUBY: Tom.

TOM: I shouldn't have done that.

I'm sorry.

It just gets so quiet at my place at nights.

Since mama died, it just gets so quiet.

I was always going to ask you, Ruby,

did you ever wonder why I never took a wife?

Mama would say, Silas, you got to get a wife.

I'd smile.

Said I was just waiting.

Fixing place up, making it nice.

She always liked you, Ruby.

Well, I just waited too long.

Then you took up with Frank.

What did I do wrong?

I tried to be a good man.

I tried to be a good friend.

You didn't do anything wrong, Silas.

Just ain't you.

I won't bother you.

I shouldn't have done that.

I didn't have to hit him.

He was asking for it, Tom.

Sometimes you just got to--

He's right.

I ain't no good.

It ain't your fault.

It is my fault. I wanted to hit him, Ruby.

And even after I did, I wanted to hit him more and more

for all the wrong reasons.

Reasons?

Reason enough.

He was--

This isn't about him.

Don't.

[muffled] and her pecan pie.

If I take one more bite, I'm gonna burst.

Did you get enough to eat?

Excuse me.

And this.

Let me see.

Hey.

Give me that.

What you kids got there?

Pug's got a ring that Tom cut off

the finger of a man he killed.

That stinking yellow belly probably

bought it out of some pawnshop.

He couldn't hurt a fly.

You're a liar.

Why you little--

SAMMY: Hey, what are you doing?

Fire!

KID: Let's get out of here.

SAMMY: Run.

PUG: Help!

Somebody please help me.

SAMMY: There's a fire.

Fire in the livery stable.

Charlie-- Charlie Upshaw and Pug, they're inside.

You boys OK?

Yeah.

PUG: Help!

Somebody please help us!

Pug?

Pug!

PUG: Help!

TOM: Pug, Pug?

PUG: Tom, Tom.

[coughing]

Len, don't go in there.

Get out.

She's all right?

Pug.

Oh, sweet Jesus.

Tom, no.

WOMAN: Where's he going?

He's going back in the fire.

[coughing]

She's OK.

Just a little smoke.

What were you kids doing in there?

Pug had this.

Son, are you OK?

This yours?

Doc.

Well, these are the discharge papers, Lincoln

Battalion, Spanish Civil War.

There his brother's Buddy.

No, it says Thomas, Thomas Walker.

Wounded twice, a war hero.

You finished?

[music playing]

Pug.

She's sleeping.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry Pug took your things and brought them into town.

At least they know the truth now.

They know you're not a coward.

Think I care about that?

Think I care they think I'm a coward?

You think I care if you do?

You know, Buddy didn't want to go.

He didn't see the sense in it.

He said it was somebody else's fight.

To me, democracy was a religion.

One side it was Franco, Mussolini, and Hitler.

And the other side was us.

One man's fight was every man's fight.

I believed.

Buddy just followed.

We ended up in a place called Bernat.

About the third day in, we--

we got hit real hard.

Buddy got the worst of it.

If he'd been on the left and I--

I'd been on the right-- it's just so random.

Buddy didn't think he could die, not like that.

When he finally understood, he just--

just went crazy from the truth of it.

This is all I got left of him.

Buddy didn't die for democracy.

He didn't die to keep the world safe from fascism.

Buddy died because he just happened to be there.

And he just happened to be there because of me.

Having you think I was a coward, that's easy.

It's harder having you know the truth.

When I gave up on Frank coming home, something inside me

just died.

And I wanted the rest of the world to die with it.

But you've taught me how to feel again you.

You've given me hope, Tom.

[music playing]

But I am safe and coming home.

[music playing]

You read it?

It's the worst thing I've ever done.

I know I should have shown it to mama, but I didn't want--

I didn't want daddy to come home.

Not now.

[crying]

I want you be my daddy.

I would have been proud to be your daddy, Pug.

Did you tell mama?

Times like these, letters get lost.

I'll trade you something, my secret for yours.

But you got to promise me something,

so you got to hold it in your heart and never tell a soul.

Sometimes you got to lose a battle to win a war.

Go back to sleep.

Everything's going to be fine.

[music playing]

Good morning.

Good morning.

Give you a light, buddy?

Please.

Took your last match.

Beg your pardon?

I took your last match.

It's OK.

I'm almost home.

It's good to be home.

Yeah.

RUBY: Pug.

PUG: Mama?

[footsteps pounding]

[crying]

[train whistling]

Hey, you going someplace special, brother,

or you just wandering?

Home, I'm going home.

PUG (VOICEOVER): I often find myself turning that time over

in my mind as one carefully turns the pages of a favorite

and often read book.

Tom was my friend.

He taught me to dance and gave my mother and me his hands,

his heart, and his hope in a very small way

and for a very short time.

Tom Walker is always and forever alive in me--

Tom?

PUG (VOICEOVER): --right next to my daddy, and Silas, and mom.

Tom?

Tom?

PUG (VOICEOVER): I once read something

that said to travel with hope is more important than arriving.

Through my fortunate life since as a doctor, wife, and mother,

I travel with hope.

[music playing]

BAND SINGERS: (SINGING) The guy I met this evening had a pair

of eyes a girl could adore.

I'm telling you the gent was heaven sent.

Swept me right off of the floor.

The guy I met this evening handed me

a line I couldn't ignore.

Hook and sinker, took the bait.

The bait was great.

And I was ready for more.

When we were dancing, when we were dancing,

ooh, how my heart went flip-flop.

And then romancing, I mean romance, I kind

of murmured, baby, don't stop.

The guy I met this evening too me

home and ushered me to my door.

I won't tell you how the guy was a wow.

But I won't breathe till Saturday night.

When we were dancing, when we were dancing,

ooh, how your heart went flip-flop.

And then romancing, I mean romancing,

I heard you saying, baby, don't stop.

The guy I met this evening took me

home and ushered me to my door.

I won't tell you how the guy was a wow.

But I won't breathe till I see him on Saturday night.