Original subtitles

This is Bob.

When Miss Roberts assigned our class Walden, She said it was about a man who

wanted to prove his responsibilities to himself by going into the woods and

living alone over 100 years ago.

Henry David Thoreau, Miss Roberts says, figured it was a time when he didn't

need anyone else except himself.

On page seven of my modern library paperback, Thoreau writes, the mass of

lead lives of quiet desperation.

That's awfully easy for him to say when you're alone.

It's like being on the inside and looking out.

I guess the worst is just being alone and being desperate for your life to be

going somewhere.

Sorry.

Pony!

Pony Boy Scout's out here.

Pony, come here.

You thought I was two -bit.

You're always hot -tailing two -bit when he sleeps over.

That's terrible, Darryl being naked in front of a little girl.

What is she doing here?

I don't know.

Her folks are probably fighting again.

That's her problem.

Derek, come on. She's got her own bed. Let her sleep in it.

Don't worry about it, Scout.

Yeah, my folks were fighting again.

Do you always go this way?

Sometimes.

Isn't it a little bit longer?

Yeah, but I like it.

Norval Tompkins lived there.

Who's he?

He was a friend of mine until he died three months ago.

He was 96 when he died.

Lived in that house all his life.

He was a railroad man.

Trains took him everywhere.

That's what I'd like to be doing.

Going somewhere.

Anywhere.

You'd just up and run away?

Why not?

When my parents start drinking, they don't even know I'm gone.

Especially him.

Never call him, Dad, do you?

Nope. Why not?

Because he's a he or a him.

Because he gets drunk and sometimes hits my mother.

Now she's starting to drink with him.

Now he's talking about picking up and moving again.

It's just drinking talk.

Is it?

I'll sober up in a few days.

Forget he even talked about moving.

There's some days I just wish I didn't have parents.

You shouldn't talk that way, Scout.

Parents is something you don't think you need until you don't have them.

Right now I need a friend more than I need my folk.

Come on.

We have time before school.

I'll show you something.

One of the doctors worked on one of these.

A long time ago.

He used to tell me stories.

He'd sit up there.

I'd be over here.

He said once he wrote a book from here to Chicago and New York City.

And all the way west to San Francisco.

He made me dream of places to go.

I guess that's what he left me with.

Dreams.

Not being afraid to make them come true.

Good for you.

And adorable.

So what's going to happen to Old Norval's house?

Well, it sort of says a discount gas station giving away super value stamps

every gallon you buy.

Well, we better get going. We'll be late for school.

My mom used to save super value stamps. When we lived in Amarillo, this catalog

showed these imitation pearl earrings.

So she bought herself a vacuum cleaner.

Daryl, I don't know how we could have made such a mistake.

It was withholding, FICA, or at least comp insurance.

It's not a mistake.

Somehow it took out $30 more to get withholding. It's not your fault,

No, Daryl, I've been here a month. It's long enough to catch it.

We'll make it up to you next week.

Hear from your husband?

Where he is?

Yesterday, Steve's way north of a place called Cantum, somewhere called

Decktown.

Is something wrong, Daryl?

It's just that the 30 bucks is our weekly food allowance, and the rest is

The refrigerator's totally empty, and my brother's soda doesn't get paid until

tomorrow, and... You talk so much about your brothers, I'd love to meet them.

Well, uh, I, we... And if you three are tired of cute steaks and meatloaf.

Well, you know, it's been a while since we've had a guest at the dinner table.

We can't afford to feed ourselves.

Much less a guest, you know. This guest will even cook the dinner.

Edwards Construction, Foreman Meadows, County Bays.

Hey, you're on. Six o 'clock.

Yes, drywalling is scheduled tomorrow at 15332.

So he grounded me.

Rat through the weekend, took my car away.

It wasn't even my fault.

Who's your step -monster, Doris? Who else?

Hi, pony boy.

Hi. Hi, Marcia. Hi.

I'll be glad to touch two cashmere sweaters.

A bill came in, and Daddy just raised holy hell with Doris. You've got to

someone. I did charge her sweaters, but one of them was for Daddy's birthday.

You know, I can't get with this walling. Can you, Ponyboy?

Yeah, I can. If your dad is anything like mine, his worst nightmares are my

parking tickets.

Three days in a row you ditched school? Three days you ditched?

Where did you go?

Telling us you were going to school every day.

Pretending that you were coming here when you weren't.

What am I going to do with... You... Mom, don't cry. Let's go.

Mrs. Jenkins, I can help you work this problem out. Thank you, but me and her

father will take care of this.

Thank you.

Young lady.

Young lady.

For ditching, you're going to be staying after school for the next three days,

starting today.

I'll make sure you go to class.

Personally.

Which way is it? Is it this way?

Come back here.

Belinda. Honey.

You come back to your mother.

Jacob. Scout. Listen to me. Scout.

Scout.

Scout. I said you need a friend.

We're new folks, right?

I'm your friend.

I am your friend.

I'll help you.

I want to help you.

I hope you like this.

When my husband was stationed in Japan, I learned all about cooking tempura

vegetables, Japanese noodles, and teriyaki steaks.

It's really good.

Get a chopstick, Dara?

Yeah.

Right...

The chopsticks are for your noodles, okay?

Here's how you do it. You put your thumb and your finger here, like so.

How long has your husband been in the army?

Since two weeks before we were married, 12 years ago.

Where is he now?

Vietnam.

I won't be hurt if you go to your fork.

They must be very excited about your plans for the roofing business.

I haven't told him yet.

I have an idea to do what Dad did.

Get out on my own.

Going door to door. I thought it was a great idea from the first time Daryl

me. How much longer does your husband have in Vietnam?

Nine months on a year's tour.

He was there in 63, too, but as an advisor.

He's in for 20 years, but he'll retire at 38 with the rest of our lives to do

what we want.

Jeez, traveling and seeing the world.

Sure beats working down at the X station six days a week.

Derry, I want to talk to you about something. So what do you guys think?

We're starting my own business like that, dude.

Scout's mom made a real bad thing at school today. I think it's a good idea.

But I just can't picture you being in a suit jacket and a tie.

I'm embarrassed to go out in front of the whole school.

Derry, her dad's starting to drink again.

And he gets really mean when he drinks, Derry.

Scout's a friend of Pony's.

She's scared, Derry.

She has lots of problems with all of them.

I want her to come live with us.

Just for a couple of days.

What happens at Scout's house, it's her business. It's not your business. It's

not our business.

You got that?

Honey boy?

Honey boy?

Can I talk to you?

Ponyboy, she's been here for three days.

Look, she tried going home yesterday.

Her dad was really drunk. She said he tried to hit her.

What do you want her to do?

She has no place to sleep.

What, do you want her to stay on the street? All right, one more night.

One more night and that's it.

Hey, Scott.

You want some breakfast?

No, thanks.

Tonight's our bowling night.

You gonna go out with your girlfriend or you going bowling with us?

Yeah, well, I can't go bowling tonight.

I gotta get out and start selling some rules.

I'll make it up to you guys next week.

Yeah, sure.

I brought you your check. Great.

I enjoyed the other night.

Yeah, yeah, so did my brothers.

Well, maybe not Ponyboy.

Family's not family without some disagreements.

Well, we have a lot of those around our house.

Especially between Ponyboy and me.

Thank you.

You won't guess what I did.

What's that?

I just up and went out and bought myself a new party dress.

Going to a big party?

Darryl, do you dance?

Not much, no.

Do you like to dance?

I step on feet.

Why? I used to go out dancing at least once every week.

She didn't.

But maybe we could go out dancing.

Tonight.

I love to dance.

Think about it.

Tonight's... All right, I'd start showing Ruth's work before pleasure

and sin

How

do you know this girl is

telling you the truth She wouldn't lie to me You say her father gets drunk and

hits her

And her mother.

This could be very serious.

You're putting yourself right in the middle of this family's trouble.

I understand.

Believe me, it's not a good place to be.

You didn't have anybody else.

You still haven't told me the name of the family.

Have you seen the father actually hit his wife or daughter?

No. I think you should know.

Once you tell me who they are, I'm legally bound to investigate.

Two drinking and abusive parents.

A father who assaults his wife and child.

The case will be turned over to the district attorney for investigation.

What happens to my friend?

If her parents are judged unfit, she'll be taken away from them.

You mean a foster home?

The way I look at it, I'm going to be draft -baked pretty soon.

Enough to make a guy old.

Now, a lot's going on.

Suddenly you're 19, 20.

It only goes this way once.

That's why I got the job here at the yard.

Hard work.

Good work, but I like it.

Helps me form a new habit.

Free -falling, Barry.

You know, jumping out of the airplane, falling 3 ,000 feet down to the ground.

This is my first jump last week.

Man, it was great.

I'm so free.

Nobody yelling at you.

I'm going to stay as young as I can for as long as I can.

I guess I sound like one of them poets in Boney's English Pass, don't I?

Know something else, Terry? What?

Scott's very soft.

Edwards Construction Site.

Sign here, my friend.

Heard Scott's taking over my couch.

Not for long, too bad.

All right.

See you there, Dad.

See you around.

Is your dance class both tonight?

Dad, we've been waiting for you.

So what else is new?

Party boy.

Come in.

Did you tell Scout?

Didn't have to.

She's got the hint.

Isn't that Dad's tie?

Yeah.

Hope you saw a lot of ruse.

Changed my mind. I'm going dancing.

With that merry -go -man.

Yeah?

Frozen the Popeyes in the freezer, and you guys make sure you do the dishes,

okay?

Get up, Soda.

Why?

Because you're sitting on my clothes.

Thank you.

I went down to the social services office today.

I talked to a Mrs. Hayes about you.

What did you do that for?

Well, I thought maybe I could help.

All she'd want to do is put me in a foster home.

Where are you going to go now, Scott?

To the moon.

Hey, what the hell are you? What do you think you're doing?

I came to get my daughter.

Come on.

Hold on, hold on. Shut up, honey. Don't go near him.

Get out of my little grease ball.

Remember the day Mom tried to teach Dari how to dance?

She'd tell him, put your arms like this.

The Tennessee Waltz was playing on the radio.

Remember?

That was always one of Mom's favorite songs.

She'd say, Dari's got to learn the waltz, even before he can rock and roll.

So she'd start waltzing, you know?

Larry would be all arms and legs, trying to keep up with mom and staying in time

to the music.

Da -da -da -da, da -da -da -da -da -da, da -da -da.

Remember?

Pull it.

All right, we're going to just... Okay.

How am I doing?

You're doing just fine.

But this has got to go.

No, no, no.

Come on, Daryl, don't be so bashful. Tell me how you'll do it.

Probably the way Dad did it.

Well, that's fair enough. How'd he do it?

Okay, picture this.

He'd drive down the street and spot a roof that needed work. He'd stop, carry

the briefcase always, and samples from tar paper to shingles to slate.

He always had his bank financing contracts with him at all times.

He always had a smile on his face.

Genuinely pleased that he could give some poor family 48 months to pay for

new roof.

He was a flat -out natural -born salesman.

Dan.

Yeah.

Hey.

How you doing, son?

Seen how the other half lived?

I'm just trying to get lucky. Roy used your mother to hook the house, man.

Why don't you give those two girls over whatever they want?

All right.

And get me a beer. Okay.

You'd be a wonderful salesman.

Thank you.

Do you really think so?

You're very trusting.

Just like your father.

He had such a personality.

Well, could he dance as well as you?

Geez, Dyer, it's after midnight.

Well, thank you, Mother Soda.

I had a great time. I don't know how such a good dance... Yeah, well, things

weren't so great over here.

Scott's father came and got her.

He's a mean drunk, Dyer.

Pushed Soda down, tried to pick a fight.

I warned you to stay out of her life.

I can't stay out of her... It's none of your business! It is my business!

You keep telling me what to do. The scout's none of my business.

Is Connie any of your business?

Huh? Mrs. Connie Biggs with the husband in Vietnam?

Come on, Derry. Tell me.

Hey, come on, guys. I think it's late. We should be going to sleep.

You're right, Soda.

It's past Derry's bedtime.

Guys, that's it.

If anybody ever wanted to pay for a good view of a Southside neighborhood, well,

here it is.

Hey, Buck.

What are you doing around here?

I was just driving around. Saw your truck. Thought I'd stop by.

Hell, you never know.

One of these days, I might dig up all those cans of money I got buried and buy

me one of these houses.

There's nothing wrong with the station, is there?

No, business couldn't be better.

I thought you were here to maybe tell me Soda wasn't cutting it.

No, Soda's only problem is being late for work.

After he's kept some young thing out past your bedtime.

You know how that goes.

Not lately.

Got an extra husky here.

Half a fried bologna sandwich.

No, thank you. I can't take my fried bologna without milk gravy.

Barry, did I ever tell you about the gal I met before I shipped over to Korea?

Oh, what about her?

Man, she was as pretty as a song on a jukebox.

Gorgeous legs.

And married.

With a husband spending a cold winter over in Korea.

Hell, I guess you could say that we both knew better.

Fuck. You're here to tell me. To say that I was about to be shipped out and

husband was already gone and that she was scared and confused and

afraid to think that he might not ever come back and she was alone and

I was alone.

As a matter of fact, that's exactly what I'm here to tell you.

I saw you dancing last night.

But I understand the lady's got a husband over in Vietnam.

That's all it was.

Dancing.

Just don't wait for the sun to come up in the morning and there's the two of

staring guilt and pain in the face.

You okay?

Did it hit you?

What's it matter?

Look, my dad's a loser, okay?

And your mom?

My dad doesn't need anybody.

But my mom?

All she's got is me.

There ain't much of me left.

She can help you.

You ain't wrong.

She's a social worker.

I don't need your help.

I don't want anybody's help.

Just leave me alone.

What do you know about parents? You don't have parents.

You're just a dreamer like Norval Tompkins.

Just leave me alone.

Ready?

It's all yours.

Who is it?

It's Daryl Curtis.

Who?

Daryl Curtis.

It's about your roof.

What about my roof?

I notice your roof is in need of repair, and I'm a licensed roofer, and I can

offer you a very good price.

Tell me more, big boy.

Well, because everybody needs a roof.

And because... Let me show you some of my samples.

Fuck always says.

No matter what you're selling, always consider the customer's problem first.

Okay?

All right.

What do you want?

I want to sell your roof at a fair price.

Yeah, well, my roof is my business, you see.

No, it's my business. I can give you any kind of roof you need at a price that's

affordable for 48 months of the day for it. And a free estimate, too. My

ladder's in the trunk. What do you say?

Try it again.

Hi, my name is Daryl Curtis, and for two generations, my family's been serving

the roofing needs of our community.

I'm offering you free inspection of your roof and terms to fit your every

financial need.

I would like very much to be of service to you and your family.

May I come in?

Well, all right.

My first cell.

I did it.

Great.

Of course I wasn't as smooth as I could be. You will be. Come in, come in.

Persuasive, that's the word. I need to be a little bit more persuasive.

Let me... I was just in the neighborhood.

No, really, Nettie, I'm not here to show you a room. I need one.

Now that you're here, why don't I go in the kitchen, get something to drink in.

We can celebrate my new roof.

Okay.

Cry, cry, cry, cry. Quit crying. Stay away from me.

I told you to quit crying. Shut up. You can't hear me.

This place is unlucky for me. We're going to get out of here.

No, Greg.

Our lives are your bad.

That's the last great frontier.

Big world strike coming. Oh, there's always a big world strike coming, isn't

there? That's all I ever hear, huh?

Go ahead, run.

That's it, run.

Oh, you little coward.

That's all you ever do. Run, run, run, run.

You ain't never gonna change.

You're making fun of me, woman.

I don't like that.

I'm going to kill you.

Stephen listed right out of high school.

He's regular army, a lifer.

20 years of pension and lots of time to rock and roll.

Except for one nasty little war.

If he makes it, I'll have spent... Two of the last 12 years waiting for

Steve to come back from some jungle or rice paddy.

Places most of this country can't spell.

Much less pronounce.

Or care about.

Steve says Vietnam is a night war.

You can't say who you're killing.

He doesn't know if we're winning or losing.

Hello, pony boy.

I see him at work. Why'd you have to come here?

Pony boy, you don't like me, do you?

Do you think something's going on between your brother Daryl and me?

Do you think your brother and I are having this wild love affair? Forget it.

Honey boy, didn't you ever need a friend?

Well, a friend isn't you.

She at your place?

No.

I was looking for her, too.

Where are you going?

Uh, moving on.

We'll be out of here by tonight.

Linda's not at your house?

No, ma 'am.

Holly!

Find her.

Look for her.

Right now! Get over here!

Soda! Steve!

I gotta find Scout!

What's up?

You gotta help me.

Scout's run away. I think she's gone for good.

How do you know?

Well, her folks are leaving town.

I think her dad beat her mom up.

I don't blame her for taking off. I know how she feels.

I gotta find her. I don't have any wheels here, pony. Her mom needs her.

gotta help me. Daryl has wheels. Why don't you use his?

He's down at the construction site.

Well, maybe Buck can give us a ride. Yeah. Come on.

I know what almost happened last night was partially... I know it would have

been wrong.

I found myself ready to let it happen, and so did you.

It's probably best if we don't see each other for a while.

How long is a while?

Connie, if we continue, we both lose.

Wrong time, wrong place.

Hey,

Derek.

Scott disappeared.

Scott spoke.

They're packing up to leave town. We've got to find her. She needs her mom, not

a foster home. Just give us your damn keys. Calm down. She took in the truck.

Buck, thank you. Buck.

On the ground.

I told you.

To the moon.

There's a five o 'clock freight.

You're going to throw away?

Like some old hobo?

Your mom asked me to find you.

What for?

Well, they're back down to leave.

She wants to say goodbye.

They're leaving. Don't you even care about your mom?

She does anything he tells her to.

Leave me alone.

Scout!

You're just like your folks.

You have to run away.

Things get you tough, you run away!

Scout, somebody asked me today, didn't I ever need a friend?

And didn't a friend ever need me?

You jumped that freight and you have only somewhere else to run.

You'll be just like him.

I've got no place to stay.

Scout, I'll find you a place to stay, I promise you.

Scout, you stay with us as long as you want.

Nick, what you doing? Say, would you put that gun down?

Something opened up, just a little for Scout that day.

For me, too.

For now, my friend Scout's still here, but so is her dad.

He'll probably be out of jail in a week, and so will his temper and drinking.

Derry stayed home that night to practice up on Dad's old sales pitch for selling

roots. He didn't say any more about Connie Biggs, and we didn't ask.

Miss Roberts says that when Thoreau came out of the woods, he was ready to stand

up to anybody for how he believed.

He even got thrown in jail for protesting the war with Mexico.

At the end of Walden, he writes, The light which puts out our darkness is

darkness to us.

Only that day dawns to which we are awake.

There is more day to dawn.

The sun is but a morning star.

The next day, when Scout and I went to school, we found Norval Tompkins' old

house had been bulldozed to the ground.

You'd say there's nothing new under the summer sun. Well, tomorrow night, Johnny

Depp and Peter DeLuise star in an all -new 21 Jump Street.

And later tonight, there's an all -new episode of the outrageous comedy hit In

Living Color. If you haven't seen it yet, what are you waiting for?

Now, stay tuned for a special edition of America's Most Wanted next.