All language subtitles for Run.The.Wild.Fields.2000.720p.WEBRip.x264.AAC-[YTS.MX]

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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.